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https://blacknerdproblems.com/azuki-expands-library-with-j-novel-club-and-star-fruit-books/

My favorite digital manga subscription service Azuki, home of my beloved My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files and newer fave Our Aimless Nights, is announcing a new partnership with J-Novel Club, plus new series from Star Fruit Books, for a total of 23 new series joining Azuki’s subscription manga lineup!

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Hit fantasy series like I Parry Everything, I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons, Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles, and more now available via Azuki website and iOS/Android apps

At their panel at Anime Expo 2024, digital manga service Azuki announced a new partnership with light novel and manga publisher J-Novel Club (JNC) to distribute their manga via Azuki’s subscription service, as well as the addition of two new series from indie manga publisher Star Fruit Books.

As part of the partnership between Azuki and J-Novel Club, Azuki will make a number of JNC’s series available on Azuki’s website and mobile apps, with full series available through Azuki’s $4.99-per-month subscription and select chapters available for free with ads to non-subscribers. Azuki announced that 21 JNC series are available right now, including hit manga with anime adaptations like I Parry Everything, I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons, and Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles.

Azuki also announced the addition of grin grin grin and Il Manga Milione from indie manga publisher Star Fruit Books. grin grin grin’s digital edition is available exclusively on Azuki, and the one-volume series is available in print from Star Fruit Books.

Finally, Azuki announced that they will release the irreverent teacher-student comedy series You’re So Sloppy, Hotta-sensei, by Mao Nakada, in ebook format. Pre-orders are available now on Amazon, BookWalker, Google Play Books, and Apple Books.

The full list of all 23 new series is included below:

From J-Novel Club:

I Parry Everything: What Do You Mean I’m the Strongest? I’m Not Even an Adventurer Yet! By KRSG, Kawaguchi

Ever since he was a young boy, Noor has wanted to be like the adventurers in his father’s stories—dragon-slayers, curse-breakers, heroes who always save the day. But as everyone knows, to be an adventurer, you’ve gotta have the right skills!

Unfortunately for Noor, his [Parry] is bottom-of-the-barrel useless, his prospects are nonexistent, and everybody he knows is telling him to throw in the towel. Faced with this harsh reality, he figures there’s only one thing to do: make up for it with effort! An intense, solitary training regimen ought to do it. If one year won’t cut it, he’ll train for five! If not five, ten!

Now facing the tail end of his twenties with no new skills to show for his labors, Noor sets out to become an adventurer anyway, determined to try one last time to make his dream come true. He might be clueless when it comes to adventuring, but he’s no stranger to hard work! Now, if only he can figure out why everyone keeps looking at him like that…

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: Action-adventure, underdogs, and those interested in the upcoming anime adaptation

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8th Loop for the Win! With Seven Lives’ Worth of XP and the Third Princess’s Appraisal Skill, My Behemoth and I Are Unstoppable!

By SkyFarm, Riku Natsume

An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride

By Fuminori Teshima, Hako Itagaki, COMTA

An Archdemon’s (Friend’s) Dilemma: How to Babysit a Crybaby Knight

By Fuminori Teshima, Momo Futaba, COMTA, Hako Itagaki

Cooking With Wild Game

By Eda, Kochimo

Der Werwolf: The Annals of Veight -Origins-

By Hyougetsu・Nishi(E)da, Yuuchi Kosumi

Dragon Daddy Diaries: A Girl Grows to Greatness

By Ameko Kaeruda, Kaziya

The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects: Tales of Blue Dias and the Onikin Alna

By Fuurou, Yumbo

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I Want to Escape from Princess Lessons

By Izumi Sawano, Uri Sugata

Leticia Dorman, daughter of a duke, has been engaged to the crown prince, Clarke, since age seven. Though once a spirited child, she’s undergone ten years of strict lessons to teach her manners fit for the future queen. Distraught by the loss of her freedom, Leticia clings to her hope that the prince might someday take an interest in another woman—and when he shows up to a royal ball with an unknown lady at his side, she’s elated to see her engagement broken off.

Finally, her dream has come true! Lettie wastes no time at all in retreating to the countryside for her new peaceful life, but her joy is cut short when the prince appears and informs her that she is still, in fact, his fiancée. Prince Clarke is determined to win her heart and marry her. Lettie is determined to resist him and escape. The universe is determined to not be of any help whatsoever.

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: Shojosei, romantic comedies, and spunky female protagonists, of course!

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Infinite Dendrogram

By Sakon Kaidou, Kami Imai, Taiki

The Invincible Summoner Who Crawled Up from Level 1

By Arata Shiraishi, Rio Nanamomo

A Livid Lady’s Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires

By Hagure metabo, Oonoimo, masami

The Magician Who Rose From Failure

By Gamei Hitsuji, Saika Fushimi

The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar

By Seiichi Takayama, chany, Yukisan

The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power: Disgraced No Longer, I’m Finding Happiness with the Prince!

By Almond, Yona Etou

Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want

By Hiiro Shimotsuki, Shizuku Akechi, Takashi Iwasaki

Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire

By Hayaken, Moto Kuromura, Nagu

Record of Wortenia War

By Ryota Hori, Yukari Yagi, bob

A Wild Last Boss Appeared!

By Firehead, Tsubasa Haduki

Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!

By Makishima Suzuki, Shimo Aono, Yappen

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Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles

By Yuri Kitayama, Futago Minaduki, Riv

Rio is a run-of-the-mill seven-year-old orphan from the slums who serves as a lookout for a local gang. Yet when he falls into a fever, memories of a past life surface.

After the gang shoos him away from their hideout to celebrate their latest haul, Rio wanders into town, still coming to terms with his new memories. There, he crosses paths with a group of nobles looking for a missing girl.

When Rio returns to the hideout, he finds the gang slaughtered—and the perp’s still around! What’s worse, the gang’s haul was actually the girl the nobles were looking for.

Rio has to combine the martial arts from his memories with the magic power of this world to fight his way out of trouble and save the lives of both the girl and himself!

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: The anime adaptation, isekai harem manga, and manga adaptations built on light novel series

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From Star Fruit Books:

grin grin grin

By Sangatou

The child of morning and night, the thunder bird, the great tree, the spirit…

An anthology spun from beautiful, strange, and slightly eerie lives. This eerie anthology of one-shots is around 90 pages or so!

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: Horror, mystery, and manga in short bursts

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Il Manga Milione

By Tatsuya Ihara

A story about a young otaku from Italy who travels to the ultimate sanctuary of manga: Japan.

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: Slice-of-life, comedic stories, and manga about otaku and traveling

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Azuki is available on the web at www.azuki.co and in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The app features 300 manga series, including international hits like Attack on Titan, Fire Force, and A Silent Voice. Azuki also publishes acclaimed new series like Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms, Natsume & Natsume, and My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files, with weekly new chapters available exclusively via the Azuki app.

Manga fans can start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full Premium catalog featuring thousands of chapters for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available, and additional volumes outside the subscription can be purchased via direct volume sales. Premium members get 20% off all volumes. Most titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at x.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.

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The post Azuki Expands Manga Library with 23 Series from J-Novel Club and Star Fruit Books appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://www.essence.com/fashion/louis-vuitton-timberland-boots-release-date/

Louis Vuitton By Robyn Mowatt ·Updated July 9, 2024

Back in January,

The post The Must-Have Louis Vuitton X Timberland Boots Release Date Is Here appeared first on Essence.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/fourth-july-party-southern-belle-perry/

Originally Published Jun. 29, 2016.

Are you still trying to figure out your holiday weekend plans? Plan a Fourth of July party to remember by throwing the doors open and hosting a big night out at home.

That’s the advice of Michiel Perry, the woman behind Black Southern Belle, a digital lifestyle brand that covers food, home decor, weddings, and fashion.

“Black Southern Belle kind of fell into my lap,” Perry said. “I was planning my wedding and decorating my home, and I was trying to get lifestyle inspiration that was uniquely Southern and uniquely black at the same time. But I was having the most difficult time finding it.”

Over the course of one year, Perry, a former political event planner and relationship manager for Google in Washington, D.C., moved back home to Charleston, South Carolina, got married, bought a historic home, and started the site.

Here she shares her tips for this holiday weekend and other summer entertaining at home:

Take the Fourth of July party outside

“I live in South Carolina, and it’s all about having a big front porch. We really wanted to show outdoor entertaining in an informal way but still very stylish, Perry says. That kind of effortless entertaining is a recurring theme. “One thing that I really want to hone in on [with] Black Southern Belle, is that not everything has to happen at a restaurant or at a formal event. You can still entertain in a relaxed way.

Simple can be chic

“You don’t have to have a 10-course meal just to have people over,” Perry said. In fact, one of her most memorable party setups was a biscuit bar, which simplifies things for host and guest alike: “You don’t have to rent all the table settings, which can be a hassle if you’re not a day-by-day hostess. But also, it’s an easy thing for people to pick up and eat and walk around with. It’s a mingling sort of food.”

Be an authentic host

Entertaining colleagues and clients at home provides “a chance for them to see that who you are professionally matches up with who you are personally, that your values match up at home and at work,” Perry said. But make sure you’re working the room, making connections, and that the people you’re bringing together will have things in common; not just professionally, but also socially.

Good manners are always in style

“Go that extra mile and write a thank you card. Even though you’re the one that hosted, it’s nice to write a thank you card for people who took the time to come to your home,” Perry said. And make it easy on yourself by getting it done before your Fourth of July party. “After the event, you’re so tired. Write it beforehand and just put it in a little favor or a gift bag.”

RELATED CONTENT:  New Documentary ‘The Debutants’ Celebrates Black Girlhood Through The Cotillion Experience

https://www.essence.com/festival/2024-essence-festival-of-culture/essence-festival-of-culture-night-3/

Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images By Okla Jones ·Updated July 8, 2024

On Sunday night of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, audiences were able to experience 30 years of this iconic event, a star studded lineup of artists, and Frankie Beverly’s farewell to the live stage. 

Hosted by Keke Palmer and Big Tigger, the evening kicked off with a set from New Orleans natives Tank and The Bangas, followed by a set from DJ Beverly Bond and the first They Have The Range segment featuring Josh Levi. Right before 9pm, the legendary R&B group SWV delivered an unforgettable performance in front of a packed crowd at the Caesar’s Superdome. Coko, Taj and Leelee sang tracks such as “Week,” “Rain,” “I’m So Into You,” and “Right Here,” among others.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: SWV performs during 2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Caesars Superdome on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

After a few songs from Durand Bernarr, the Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Victoria Monét proved to be fan-favorite on the festival’s third night, where the audience saw her run through several of her records, along with a surprise appearance from Lucky Daye for their collaboration, “Smoke.” While showcasing her immense talent as an entertainer, Monét did a quick reggae set, before ending with “On My Mama.”

Dj Jubilee, the iconic Bounce artist, warmed the crowd up with some of his tracks before Janet Jackson came out to “No Sleep,” then went into “That’s The Way Love Goes.” The legendary musician then ran through four decades of her discography, concluding with 1989’s Rhythm Nation.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: Victoria Monet and Lucky Daye perform during 2024 Essence Music Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/WireImage)

With the theme of the evening paying homage to the artists that made the ESSENCE Festival special since its inception in 1995, Bryan-Michael Cox helmed a set highlighting artists of the past, present, and future. Artists such as Serayah, Lil Moe, Bilal, and Jagged Edge all sang renditions of classic records from Anita Baker, Earth, Wind & Fire, Boys II Men, and Aretha Franklin. Festival veteran Doug E. Fresh showed love for the genre of hip-hop before Cox ended the segment.

Amidst all of the amazing performances, the focus of the evening was geared towards Frankie Beverly’s final farewell. Luke James and Anthony Hamilton performed in his honor, before the band’s new lead singer Tony Lindsay sang several of Maze’s hits. Frankie then appeared front center to accept a plaque from former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, which was met by an uproarious ovation from the crowd mostly dressed in all-white.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: Frankie Beverly receives a tribute on stage during 2024 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/WireImage)

For years, Frankie Beverly has been synonymous with the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, so it was only right that he was given his flowers during the final farewell. With sets from Janet, Victoria Monét, and SWV, along with the powerful tribute the last night of ESSENCE was one for the books.

TOPICS:  2024 ESSENCE Festival of Culture frankie beverly

The post Night Three Of The ESSENCE Festival Of Culture Featured Janet Jackson, Victoria Monét And An Unforgettable Tribute appeared first on Essence.